3 days of trekking with many difficulties in topography and health bring groups of visitors unforgettable emotions.
Putaleng (read in the Mong language as Pu Ta Leng) is the third highest mountain in Vietnam (3,049 m), after Fansipan (3,143 m) and Pusilung (3,089 m). On the challenge level, Putaleng is considered to be a difficult climbing bow, possessing a certain degree of danger with a long and steep path (the total distance of climbing is 35 km). Therefore, Putaleng is never recommended for those who are new to trekking.
The 9-member group Truong Minh Thuy decided to conquer this mountain at the beginning of the year, as a happy and smooth new year. Accompanying the group are 1 main guide, 3 transporters carrying food and essential items, 2 team leaders.
Day 1
The group departs from Hanoi, at 9:00 pm December 30, 2020 and arrives in Sa Pa at 4:00 on December 31, 2020. After that, the group followed a 16-seater transit vehicle to the house of Giang from Dao, the main guide whom Thuy had contacted a month ago. Giang’s house is located in Ho Thau village, Lai Chau, about 55 km from Sa Pa. Upon arriving in Lai Chau, the group rested, had breakfast, and prepared for the first day of climbing.
The test of the first day was a gentle ramp from the start point to the foot of the first slope. This section passes through many streams with clear potable water.
With more than half of the team members being office workers, doctors, students with no experience in trekking, climbing Putaleng with them is a big challenge. On the first day, the group must conquer three high and long slopes called “3 3T slopes”. The name means that each slope takes about 3 hours to cross. The first slope starts after going all the way along the stream.
The group must climb the vertical slope continuously. There are high slopes, there is no place to support, so the tour guide has made wooden ladders for members to move. Although the average time is 3 hours per slope, but the group takes more time because it is unfamiliar with the terrain and it takes a lot of effort to conquer the first slope. At 11am, although not yet at the right place for lunch, the group had to stop to rest and fill their hungry stomachs.
The first lunch included sticky rice, sesame salt, cotton scrub, and pork rolls. After the meal for 15 minutes, the group continued their journey. According to Giang’s prediction, around 8:00 pm the group will arrive at the night stand.
The third slope to climb in the bamboo forest is the hardest journey because the slope is much steeper. It was also dusk at night and everyone was tired.
As soon as he reached the top of the third slope, Putaleng presented the group with a rare sunset view. Everyone watched the beautiful scenery for about 10 minutes and then continued to move to the log about 30 minutes away. At this time it was already dark, the group had to use a flashlight and groping to not slip because the road was mossy.
However, the good thing is that compared to the time Giang predicted, the members exceeded the quota, officially arrived at the wooden shed to stay overnight at 6pm. Everyone is tired, but joyfully welcome the moment to 2021. For all members, this year’s New Year’s Eve is special to spend with new friends, in a completely unfamiliar place. Although I really want to stay up until the New Year’s Eve, because we are preparing to stop the next day’s long way, after having dinner, the group goes to bed at 8 o’clock. The temperature of the first night was below 5 degrees.
Day 2
The first morning of 2021, everyone got up early to admire the beauty of the primeval forests. The first beautiful moments of the new year made many members of the group recover. Have breakfast, drink coffee, then the group prepare furniture for the road over 12 small slopes to reach Mount Putaleng.
On the second day, from the log to the top, it will take about 5 hours, depending on the health of each person. This way, the group still climbed in the primeval forest. If you climb around March and April, visitors will be able to see the red and yellow azaleas blooming in the forest and walk on the carpet of falling flowers at the feet.
At over 12 noon, the group officially touched the top of Putaleng. It seemed that the fatigue of almost two days had vanished by the instant the shiny tip was visible. The other emotion is the pride of conquering your goals, breaking through and overcoming limits that if you don’t do it, no one will think you can.
From the top to the shack, the group moved faster because the road was downhill. Walking while breathing the fresh air, watching the afternoon sun alternating through the leaves of the primeval forest which only imprints the footprints of ethnic people who are hunting and people who are passionate about adventure.
Day 3
Nearly 6am on the last day of the Putaleng conquest, the group departs after having breakfast with fried rice and instant noodles. Since the departure is quite early, the group can also watch the sunrise on the mountain, welcome the golden sunshine and the cool winds at the beginning of the day.
The group moved to another road in the direction of Ta Leng to descend the mountain. The way back is flat and more comfortable, most of them move in the primeval forest with diverse and rich vegetation.
Around 11:00 am, the group stopped by the stream and ate their last meal in the forest before returning to town. The transporter has picked forest bamboos to make chopsticks, picked leaves to make cups, bringing the whole group a meal experience.
Thuy’s group ended at 2pm at the People’s Committee of Ta Leng commune (Lai Chau), there was a transfer bus waiting to welcome the group back to Mr. Giang’s house to collect things before returning to Sapa, officially. the end of the journey.
Every day of the trip has its own interesting things, the days of traveling are extremely tiring, the day we come back we go in the primeval forest, drink mineral water, pick leaves for food, walk in the valley of the cardamom of the people. to listen to stories, receive enthusiastic help from guide brothers and transporters and experience feelings that would never have been without the courage.
“I think that the beginner trekking can still conquer the difficult bow if we have careful preparation, more importantly the will and faith to overcome the limits beyond our expectations. In the end, luckily, the trip went off successfully. “, Minh Thuy shared.
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